When working with many young people, I often hear that they are thinking about their future and trying to discern what vocation God wants them to be. However, I believe when they use the word “discernment” for a vocation, they are simply thinking about the different possibilities and options that are available. Some will try to pray and see the bigger picture, but many tend to fall short of making discernment an active matter instead of simply thinking about something. It is the desire to open ourselves up to His grace at work in us so He can bring to fulfillment what He had begun in us when we received our Baptism and recognize the call to conversion. Saint Paul said it beautifully when he wrote to the Philippians: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (1:6)
Discernment is at the heart of a relationship, for a vocation is not simply a job or career that someone can change as liked. It is not something initiated by ourselves or can be achieved if we set our heart on it. A vocation is a divine calling, given by God and received by the hearer. That is why to discern means to listen and personalize that calling from Him by seeking signs, comfort, and growth in our own faith-filled, spiritual journey toward Him who calls us. To discern something seriously, especially our lifelong vocation, requires a personal commitment to pray.
Let us be honest and real, if we do not make time to pray, we will never have time to slow down, think, and reflect on what is important and what is going on in life, especially to listen to what He has to say! There is always the invitation to pray at least twice a day, setting up the two foundational “hinge” times: to open and begin as well as to close and end the day well. These two important times do not have to be long in the beginning, but they are important to build up the spiritual endurance and foundation, as well as to become invitations to add more time as our spiritual exercises and senses are more in tune with God. Prayer is important, especially in discernment of the truth and our God-given vocation so we can seek, understand, and love His will instead of what is apparently appealing or desired by us at the moment. If we have to give time to think about the important choices in life, it is crucial that we spend the time to truly seek and desire Him and His will in our own spiritual journey and its growth.
Second, it is also important to build up a consistent and growing desire for the sacramental life, especially the participation of Mass and adoration. We are the Church, and Christ speaks to us directly through the Church and her sacraments. No matter what vocation one might choose, they are all grounded in the love of Christ (to and/or for the Church). When one desires to grow in his or her life of faith, one desires to become more connected to Him who has given His very life for the salvation of the world and who continues to desire to give Himself to each and every one of us through the sacraments. Therefore, to receive Him is to desire to receive Him through the sacramental life of theChurch, receive His words through the Scriptures, His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, desire His forgiveness through Reconciliation, and seek His presence when we witness a sacrament celebrated. Listen again to what Saint Paul had to say as he continues his letter to the Philippians with a very encouraging message,
“And this is my prayer [for you]:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.” (1:9-11)
The heart of discernment is grounded in prayer so that our love for Christ is stretched and grows in His love. No matter what is being thrown at us or all around us, we cannot stop finding personal, creative, and intimate ways to grow in our love for the Lord and one another. This love opens our eyes to greater things instead of being myopics or blinded to our own personal agendas or needs. The ultimate goal of discernment is to be able to seek, perceive, and see everything from God‘s own lenses, especially in the scope of eternity and the beatific vision. It is grounded in hope as to know all things have value, even if they are challenging at the moment so that we can discern what is necessary and important in the midst of many competing and compelling goods.
Even though we might struggle and fail at times, it is important to purify our hearts and seek holiness, willing to make sacrifices for the greater good and according to His will, in the midst of life’s ups and downs. We are not asked to be self-righteous and pretentious, but to be honest, humble, and more blameless by planting, nurturing, and caring for what has been planted so that they will bear real and life-giving fruits in due time according to His divine will and providence. Blamelessness is different than thinking of ourselves better than others or putting the blame on them so we can be judgment-free, nor it is scrupulously blaming ourselves or drowning ourselves with self-pity. It is the intimate offering of ourselves, knowing who we are, and being comfortable with who we are, for the glory and praise of God, not just our own glory or self-praising.
In the Gospel, we also hear a similar invitation and another perspective from Saint John the Baptist to prepare our hearts for the upcoming Advent season:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Luke 3:4-6)
Therefore, let us ask ourselves honest questions:
- Is my relationship and way with the Lord straight and focused or still all over the place? Am I able to come and be focused on Him directly or are there too many things hindering and taking my attention away?
- Are my valleys of hopelessness, despairs, or negativities keeping me down and away from receiving His radiating love? How can I find personal ways to fill my valleys with personal trust as I lovingly hope in the Lord?
- Do my mountains of pride or obstacles make me think that I know it all, want to be in control or keep me from focusing on God’s goodness? How can I feel His grace at work in keeping me moving when I cannot find the motivation, willingness, or energy to do so, perhaps at times, just one foot ahead of the other?
- How am I personally trying to shorten my distance and reservation with God and His will, especially making my prayer times direct, honest, and personal instead of being winding and with so many unrealistic demands and expectations for Him?
- How am I trying to make myself smooth and work on my rough edges so I can be more gentle, loving, caring, compassionate, and fully present to others in words and actions?
- Is my whole body and soul, everything that I have, yearn and desire the grace of God as to trust, be saved, and be redeemed by His constant love at work in my life?
Please remember that discernment is an acquired spiritual skill and it is an important, life-long process of learning over and over again. We will make mistakes at first, and even if we have them down through experiences, we can still make mistakes as we rush through things or get too distracted and pulled by many different matters in life. However, discernment helps us to seek and love God‘s holy will to us as we embrace our purpose and mission for eternity. It grounds us in what is truly important and life-giving as we walk toward our final destinations with many things tempting and distracting us on the journey. It is a necessary and gentle reminder to take time to calm down, think, reflect, and seek God‘s will in the midst of many busyness of life. Therefore, let us not lose sight of what is important and to have a discerning heart at all times.